Lighting fixture with a light guard



March 9, 1965 1. M. AUSMAN 3,172,608

LIGHTING FIXTURE) WITH A LIGHT GUARD Filed Aug. 27, 1962 INVENTOR. H6,.9: [cw/v6 Al. 401M461 United States Patent s 172 608 LIGHTING FlXTURiSwrrn A LIGHT GUARD Irving M. Ausmm, 306 lier St., Merrill, Wis. FiledAug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,560 2 Claims. Cl. 240-78) This inventionrelates to a light guard, and more particularly to protective covers forlighting fixtures.

Many industrial plants and barns utilize fluorescent lights disposed inelongated fixtures. Many such fixtures are manufactured with open sidesor ends, but users thereof have sometimes desired to close them in theinterest of safety and cleanliness.

The present invention provides a readily attachable and removable guardfor such fixtures, and which provides the desired protection.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presentlycontemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a light guard constructed inaccordance with the invention, and showing it mounted in place under anelongated light fixture;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an insideportion of the guard of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1, and showing anothermounting means;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing stillanother mounting means; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view with parts broken away of anotherembodiment of light guard.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention is adaptedfor use with a horizontal elongated fluorescent lighting fixture 1having a longitudinal frame 2 with open ends which expose the tubemounting members 3. Fixture 1 may be hung from a ceiling e.

In some instances it may be desired to cover the bottom and the openframe ends of the fixture. For this purpose, a light guard 5 is providedand which comprises an elongated sheet of suitable light-transmissiveplastic which is bent upwardly along a transverse line near the ends toform a horizontal base 6and two vertical upstanding end members 7. Base6 is of slightly greater length and width than fixture 1 and covers thelight tubes 8. End members 7 are of greater height than fixture frame 2.The guard will .herefore fit over the fixture from below with ends 7extending above the frame.

It is desirable that the plastic sheet be clear and relatively flexiblerather than brittle. A suitable plastic has been found to be celluloseacetate butyrate. Plexiglas, although slightly more brittle, may also beusable in some installations.

To reinforce guard 5 and also prevent collected debris and dust fromfalling off the edges of base 6, a pair of lightweight metal anglestrips are provided. Each strip comprises a horizontal flange 9 and avertical flange 10 extending upwardly from adjacent the outer edge offlange 9. The corner between flanges 9 and 10 fits up against thelongitudinal edge of base 6. In addition, one of the flanges is extendedat each end and bent inwardly 90 so that it forms a brace 11 which fitsover an end member 7. In the embodiment shown, each flange 10 isextended to provide a brace 11 at each end. The lower edge of each brace11 is substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the end edge of theopposite flange 9.

The various elements of each angle strip which are contiguous with theplastic sheet, such as flange 10 and brace 11, are secured to base 6 andflange 9 respectively by a suitable means such as rivets 12.

Patented Mar. 9, 1955 ice The light guard shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 issecured in place beneath fixture 1 by a plurality of cables 13 attachedat the top to ceiling 4 and at the bottom to eyelets or hooks 14 whichare mounted in flanges ill.

in the embodiment of FIG. 3, hooks 15 are constructed to engage thesides of frame 2 to thereby eliminate cables 13 and hang the guarddirectly from the fixture.

Iri FIGURE 4 another embodiment is shown wherein guard 5 is suspended ontransverse cables 16 which join transversely aligned hooks 17 on theframe and which pass beneath the fixture.

The embodiment of FIGURE 5 may be used in the event it is desired toprotect the sides as well as the ends of the fixture. In this instance,light-transmissive plastic side panels 1% are riveted or otherwisesecured to vertical flanges it and extend between the edges of endmembers 7 and to a height similar to the end members. Vertical cornerbraces 19 are then utilized. Alternatively, panels 13 could be bent upfrom base 6, as are members 7.

The invention provides a novel light guard which is easy to install andinexpensive to manufacture. Complete protection of and from the lightfixture is obtained therewith. In the event of light tube breakage,protection below from shattered glass is provided.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded astheinvention.

I claim: 1. In combination with an elongated lighting fixture havingopen ends, a guard comprising:

(a) an elongated sheet of light-transmissive plastic forming ahorizontal protective base disposed beneath the fixture,

(b) said base being bent upwardly along a transverse line adjacent eachsaid open end and forming vertical protective end pieces covering theopen ends of the fixture,

(c) a lightweight metal reinforcing angle member disposed along eachedge of said base and having a horizontal flange and a vertical flangeextending upwardly from adjacent the outer edge thereof, the top edge ofeach said vertical flange being disposed substantially below the topedge of each said protective end piece,

(d) each end of one of said flanges extending beyond the other flangeand being bent inwardly to form a brace member having an edge disposedparallel to and closely adjacent the end edge of the other flange,

(e) means securing said horizontal flange to said base and securing saidbrace member to a respective end piece,

( and means mounting said guard beneath said fixture.

2. The guard of claim 1 in which the mounting means (1) comprises:

(a) a plurality of transversely aligned hooks secured to said fixture;

(b) and cables joining said hooks and suspendingly supporting said guardbeneath the fixture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,090,795 Schoenhardt Mar. 17, 1914 2,190,898 Van Veen Feb. 20, 19402,323,002 Baker June 29, 1943 2,546,190 Koppang et al Mar. 27, 19512,659,808 Beckwith Nov. 17, 1953 2,913,571 Smith Nov. 17, 1959

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN ELONGATED LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING OPEN ENDS, AGUARD COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED SHEET OF LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE PLASTICFORMING A HORIZONTAL PROTECTIVE BASE DISPOSED BENEATH THE FIXTURE, (B)SAID BASE BEING BENT UPWARDLY ALONG A TRANSVERSE LINE ADJACENT EACH SAIDOPEN END AND FORMING VERTICAL PROTECTIVE END PIECE COVERING THE OPENENDS OF THE FIXTURE, (C) A LIGHTWEIGHT METAL REINFORCING ANGLE MEMBERDISPOSED ALONG EACH EDGE OF SAID BASE AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL FLANGE ANDA VERTICAL FLANGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM ADJACENT THE OUTER EDGETHEREOF, THE TOP EDGE OF SAID SAID VERTICAL FLANGE BEING DISPOSEDSUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TOP EDGE OF EACH SAID PROTECTIVE END PIECE, (D)EACH END OF ONE OF SAID FLANGES EXTENDING BEYOND THE OTHER FLANGE ANBEING BENT INWARDLY TO FORM A BRACE MEMBER HAVING AN EDGE DISPOSEDPARALEL TO AND CLOSELY ADJACENT THE END EDGE OF THE OTHER FLANGE, (E)MEANS SECURING SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGE TO SAID BASE AND SECURING SAIDBASE MEMBER TO A RESPECTIVE END PIECE, (F) AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID GUARDBENEATH SAID FIXTURE.